Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Back to Syllabus Search | Browse by Department
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Elementary Physics (Online)

PHYS 1010-30I

Course: PHYS 1010-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: PSCI
CRN: 12133

Course Description

A conceptual, non-mathematical introduction to physics. Topics in mechanics include motion, Newton’s laws of motion, momentum, energy, rotational motion, and gravity. A minimum grade of “C” (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a physical science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other course. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Textbook: “Conceptual Physics” by Paul Hewitt, 13th Ed. ISBN-13: 9780135746264

The text is “required” in the sense that I will assume you have the textbook and will not make any special arrangements if you choose not to obtain a copy. The textbook is intended to augment and complement the lecture videos. You are expected to study the assigned textbook sections. This is especially important since this is a self-guided online course. I honestly believe that dedicated study of the textbook in addition to the lecture videos will develop and strengthen your understanding of the physical concepts.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Identify the basic nature of science and be able to apply physics principles to recognize and formulate a logical argument.
  2. Recognize and apply principles of motion and energy, including Newton’s three laws of motion.
  3. Recognize the connection between the macroscopic, microscopic, and atomic levels of matter.
  4. Describe the basic behaviors of fluids.
  5. Study properties of light.

Course Requirements

Course Assessment Table
Course AssessmentsCourse Outcomes
Homework1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Quizzes1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Final Project1
Assignment Outline
Homework

You will have 14 homework assignments. Each assignment will consist of about 30 questions that utilize a variety of question types, such as multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, numeric response, and short answer essay. You are allowed two submission attempts per homework assignment. There is no time limit to the homework assignments; however, both submission attempts must be submitted before the due date.

Late homework assignments will be accepted with a penalty after the due date. The maximum score that can be earned for a late homework assignment is 70%. Late assignments must be submitted by the last day of the semester.

Quizzes

You will have 5 quizzes in this course. Each quiz will consist of about 30 questions. You will have about 35 minutes to complete the quiz once you have started. Only one attempt will be offered per quiz. Quizzes must be submitted before the assigned due date. You may use your textbook or notes to complete the quiz. However, keep in mind that there is a time limit. You will need to know the material beforehand as you will not have enough time to look up concepts during the quiz.

If you miss a quiz, you can request to make up the quiz, however, there is a significant penalty. The maximum score that can be earned on the makeup quiz is 50%. Requests need to be made before the last week of the semester. This is a significant penalty so there should not be any motivation to use this option. This is intended only for unexpected errors. The quizzes can be taken early, so plan ahead if you have a conflict with the actual due date.

Grade Scheme
ComponentPercentage
Homework36%
Quizzes (5 total)54%
Final Project6%
Miscellaneous4%
Total:100%
Grading Standards
GradeRange
A100 % to 94.0%
A-< 94.0 % to 90.0%
B+< 90.0 % to 87.0%
B< 87.0 % to 84.0%
B-< 84.0 % to 80.0%
C+< 80.0 % to 77.0%
C< 77.0 % to 74.0%
C-< 74.0 % to 70.0%
D+< 70.0 % to 67.0%
D< 67.0 % to 64.0%
D-< 64.0 % to 61.0%
F< 61.0 % to 0.0%

Course Outline

Module 1: Intro to Science and Newton's 1st Law
Module 2: Motion
Module 3: Newton's Second Law
Module 3: Newton's Second Law
Module 5: Momentum
Module 6: Energy
Module 7: Rotational Motion
Module 8: Atomic Nature of Matter
Module 9: Liquids
Module 10: Gases
Module 11: Temperature, Heat and Expansion
Module 12: Heat Transfer
Module 13: Vibration and Waves
Module 14: Properties of Light

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

  • Late homework assignments will be accepted with a penalty after the due date. The maximum score that can be earned for a late homework assignment is 70%. Late assignments must be submitted by the last day of the semester.
  • You can request to make up a missed quiz (with a penalty) after the due date. The maximum score that can be earned on the makeup quiz is 50%. Contact the instructor directly if you need to request a make-up quiz. Requests need to be made before the last week of the semester. This is a significant penalty so there should not be any motivation to use this option. This is intended only for unexpected errors. The quizzes can be taken early, so plan ahead if you have a conflict with the actual due date.
Extra Credit

I do not plan to offer any extra credit work this semester. Please do not ask for extra credit to improve your grade, focus on getting the regular credit the first time. This is a university-level course. As such, a high level of organization and professionalism is expected.

Instructor's Response Time & Feedback

Online classes provide unique challenges for interaction. For messages sent to me, I will respond in the specified amount of time. Feedback is an important part of learning please look for feedback on your assignments that I provided in the specified amount of time, to find feedback look at this tutorial How do I view assignment comments from my InstructorLinks to an external site..

It is my goal to:

  • Respond to student messages within 1 - 2 business days
  • Provide grades and feedback within 1 - 3 days from the due date

Attendance Policy

Since this is an online, self-guided course, attendance will not be recorded. You are responsible for staying up-to-date and for tracking assignment due dates. If this is a concern, I recommend you take the face-to-face course instead of this online section. Links to an external site.

Course Fees

NA

Additional Course Information

Additional Course Information
Prerequisite(s)

MATH 1010Links to an external site. or equivalent recommended

Registration Restriction(s)

Intensive English Program majors may not enroll

General Education Course

Physical Sciences

Canvas Information

Canvas is where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

  • For Passwords or any other computer-related technical support:
    • 435-865-8200
    • support@suu.edu
    • IT Service DeskLinks to an external site.
  • For Canvas help:
    • 435-865-8555
    • canvas@suu.edu
    • Canvas Help CenterLinks to an external site.
    • How to Use Canvas
SUU Campus Resources and Services

SUU has several resources and services available to support you during your time here at SUU, please review this list of SUU Campus Resources and Services (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and the Student Handbook (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. For more information on Canvas and other technologies, and their statements on Accessibility and Privacy statements please review our Vendor Resources (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.page.

Financial Security Statement

Finances are an integral part of maintaining your well-being. If you are struggling financially or wish to know more about budgeting, please visit the Financial Wellness CenterLinks to an external site. in room 201C in the Sharwan Smith Center, contact Ashleigh Zimmerman at (435) 865-8436, or text the Financial Wellness line at 435-708-1952.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.